I'm just a bit surprised at the results here.

I voted "why is this even an issue?"

But more than that -- why do so many people want the benches facing the street. Do you really want to be the person at a bench staring at a parked car? Or the person getting out of a car right in front a person sitting on a bench?

Also, the benches are supposed to be a social ornament. They're not very social facing the street. They're social facing the sidewalk. When people walk by, you want to be able to great each other. You can't do that nearly as well with your back to the passersby.

The more I think about it, I just don't see how facing the street makes any sense.

The first time I looked at the benches facing the buildings I thought that they just looked backwards. It's like sitting on your front porch facing the house.

Why not put them closer to the buildings than the streets and have them face towards the street?

that makes the most sense to me...

I was about to write the same thing Chelsea, however places like Main St. Pizza have some out door furniture that would be affected.

Good Idea Chelsea, on the other side of the sidewalk, facing the street.

Maybe, from now on, before any public works projects in the city (or various towns or villages) are undertaken there could be a poll and if a clear majority decision cannot be reached as to the best answer of said project, nothing is done at all.




(In case you're not sure, I am being sarcastic.)

just trying to think outside of the box here...

i agree that the placement of the benches are wrong too. if you just face them to the street most of them will be too close to parked cars. nice to see car doors but thats about it...

I voted "why is this even an issue", but figured voice an idea.

Bolt one leg on each bench down. People can lift up and turn the bench whatever way they want it. Discourages people from trying to completely relocate or steal the benches and the original problem is solved.

Next.

Bolt them to a lazy susan? Why be limited to just street or sidewalk?

Now, there is the ultimate answer. It could look like a Disney Main St. with a tilt-a-whirl ride right on our sidewalks.
People would flock here for the chills and thrills of the sidewalk bench ride.
If you build it, they will come.

But what if a Democrat and a Republican wanted to sit on the bench at the same time? Which way would it face?

Let them duke it out for all I care and whoever wins gets to decide which way the bench'll face.

Or someone could grow a pair and find another bench to sit on. Still doesn't make any difference to me.

We're still discussing this?